Battle of Mon Calamari

[John Hammond]

3rd Imperial Battlegroup:
2 Emperor Class SD
20 Imperial Siege Cannon
10 Imperial Ion Frigates
10 Imperial Immolator Frigates
15 Victory Mk. I SD
10 Dreadnoughts
20 Starblaze Lancers
20 Carrack Cruisers
5 TIE Transport Carriers

4th Imperial Battlegroup:
30 Imperial Siege Cannons
10 Imperial Ion Frigates
10 Victory Mk. III SD
10 Victory Mk. I SD
40 Carrack Cruisers
10 Starblaze Lancers

Imperial Command Group Nu
1 Executor Class SD
2 Emperor SD
5 Starblaze Lancers

Imperial Command Group Gamma
1 Executor Class SD
2 Emperor SD
5 Starblaze Lancers

4th Imperial Support Group:
1 Arc Hammer
2 Executor Class SD
40 Dreadnoughts
30 Nebulon-H Frigates
20 Nebulon B Frigats
5 TIE Transport Carriers

10 TIE Transport Carriers

5,000 TIE Interceptors
10,000 TIE Lambda
20,000 TIE Fighters
10,000 TIE Torpedo Bombers
10,000 TIE Bombers

300 Victory Class Mk. III Size Hapian Cruisers
5,000 My'til Bombers
10,000 My'til Fighters

5,000 Corvette Size Chiss Frigates
10,000 Chiss Starfighters

[John Hammond]

The fleets came out of hyperspace, the 3rd and 4th Imperial Battlegroups in front, trailed by Nu Command and Gamma Command, and the 4th Support Group behind to provide cruisers wherever they were needed. Interspersed between them were 10 additional TIE Transport Carriers, as well as thousands of Chiss and Hapian cruisers.

Admiral Crow was on the Iram, so named for the honoured dead Emperor Galor Iram, who had been called by Hammond a "military genius", while Admiral Garin commanded the Avenger. Both cruisers were Executor Class Star Destroyers, and they commanded a powerful view of the space before them.

"Very well. 3rd Battlegroup will take left flank, 4th take right. Chiss and Hapians to provide coverfire and counterfire only. Don't bother yourselves with enemy cruisers unless they are firing specifically at you. 4th Support, you're dead centre, and provide support as needed. Fire at will."

The fleet formed up. The battlegroups assembled, with the Imperial Battlegroups forming one side of the phalanx each, and the 4th Support a double column., with the Arc Hammer and two Executors forming a battle hammer with which to stop any enemy flets. The Chiss and the Hapians, along with the Carriers, ocuppied the space between.
___ __ - - -
___ -....-...-....-
_ -........-... -........-
-............-...-...........-

(The formation looks something like that. Dots are Chiss, Hapes and Carrier ships, and dashes are Imperial Fleets. Underscores are simple empty spaces. This is not a scale drawing, merely a representation).

Once the fleets formed, Admiral Crow, who was the Supreme Commanding Officer for this battle, gave the go-ahead.

"Open fire on those enemy platforms."

Immediately, the Ion Frigates opened fire on the defense platforms, and dozens of ion rounds impacted against them, leaving many of their weapons charred and useless.

The invasion of Mon Calamari had begun.

[John Hammond]

The Republic responded speedily, answering the offending fleets with some 20 MC80 and 10 MC90 cruisers. Almost 10,000 X-wings, 2,000 A-wings and 1,500 Y-wings flew alongside them. Several Nebulon Class B-II Frigates escorted the battlegroup. The battlegroup, in a brave maneouvre, attempted to flank the Imperials.

Hundreds of rounds impacted against each fleet, causing them to be filled with explosions. Unfortunately for the Republic, when the flanking fleet had been spotted, Crow had given the order for the right arm of the phalanx to halt its advance, while the centre advanced at the assigned speed, and the left arm quadrupled its speed, and began to turn. When the Republic "flanked" the right arm, they were met with a U formation that immediately enveloped them.

The battle raged on, causing severe losses on both sides. Thousands of starfighters fought in the air, and the cruisers exchanged fire. 2 Emperor Class Destroyers had managed to trap a single MC90 cruiser that was suspected of being the fleet flagship because it continuously relayed communications, and had flanked it. The ships exchanged fire continuously, but the MC90 was sheerly overwhelmed, being fired upon from both sides. Immediately, 4 MC80 cruisers broke off the formation to come to its aid, but the capital ship exploded before they could reach it.

[John Hammond]

"Admiral, fighters incoming! Brace for impact!" The techies in the Command Bridge held tightly on to the railings, as twelve bomber squadrons managed to slip past the Iram's AA guns, and began to drop their payloads. The ship shook from the concentrated explosions, at the same time as another Republic MC80 redirected its cannon fire against the shield generators.

"Status report!" With the ship still reeling from the impact, Admiral Crow was already standing, and looking out at the damage.
"Two of our engines are out. Shields are operating at 27% and going down. Decks U254 through U230 are knocked out. They are stable, though. Turbolasers are returning fire at 67% efficiency, and only 4 out of 6 hangar decks are still operational.

With the Iram trapped in the middle of the enemy fleet, it had become the main target for the cruisers. Although it had dealt massive damage, taking down hundreds of starfighters, dozens of small frigates and destroyers and a couple of capital ships, it was now bending down to its knees.

Soon, however, the battle would be over. The enemy admiral had not only allowed himself to be encircled by the Star Destroyers, but now the Hapes and Chiss frigates had managed to slip beneath the enemy fleet. To avoid taking enemy fire on their vulnerable underbellies, the cruisers would have to rise, and attempt to push outwards. As they did this, they would move away from the centre, where the Hapes ships would emerge. From here, with an opening in the centre, the fleet could be separated into sectors, where they would be dealt with piece-meal.

Already, the enemy fleet was beginning to fall into this strategy, their fleet split visibly into three parts. Most of the enemy starfighters had been wiped out by massive arcs of fire; the squadrons pestering the Iram were the last, the best, the desperate hope that lay with the Republic.

As Crow watched, a squadron of TIE Avatar's launched themselves against the Y-Wings, tailing them. They opened fire, and three fighters burst into flames. Another run, and the remaining Y-Wings scattered, their squadron torn to pieces.

[John Hammond]

Just 10 cruisers of the enemy fleet were left. Half of those ships left were being boarded, and their capture was imminent. As the rest of the fleet pulled up to finish the encirclement, Admiral Crow smiled.

"Stop all turbolaser fire. Wipe out those remaining starfighters, and re-direct all ion cannon fire against those 5 MCs. I want them nice and ready for boarding."

Although he spoke confidently, Crow had been worried for a small while. His "brilliant" strategy of sending the Command Groups into the midst of the battle had resulted in massive losses amongst them, with several capital cruisers heavily damaged. However, the enemy fleet had been completely wiped out; almost 10 of them could be salvaged, and the rest would be re-processed for their metal.

Soon, the space was quiet once more as all of the enemy starfighters were either wiped out or disabled, and the cruisers taken over or knocked out cold by the ion cannons.

"Well done. Now board the enemy cruisers, we'll standby here for some time, and let the troops board, repair, re-wire and reshield the ships."

[Idella Faros]

Being a strategic centre, the Republic had taken backup plans. Large portions of the shipyards had been disassembled and transported elsewhere. Although the structure of the shipyard was too large and heavy to transport, the equipment and smaller parts had been lifted or sabotaged. Much of the willing population had also fled with the Republic Fleet to avoid persecution by Remnant Stormtroopers. It was likely that the remainder of the population, still a very large one, would be at peace under the rule of the Empire, and would either wait out the storm or flee from the planet in the future. The Naval Headquarters on the planet had also been abandoned with all data moved and cleaned from the area. There was a sense that the Republic was about to fall, and hence, everyone was attempting to seize their assets. Warlords were in the making once again, and the few loyalists who remained found themselves in treacherous waters.

[John Hammond]

OOC: If I may, what is the point of capturing a shipyard planet if the shipyards can leave??? Let's say out of 3 shipyards, 1 completely disassembled and 1 halfway? I'm ok with that, but not much more.

Also, too much of the willing population cannot have escaped quickly as there would not be enough transports....I'm also curious as to how the republic soldiers fled without naval transportation???

[John Hammond]

Admiral Crow grimaced as he watched transports beginning to take parts of the shipyards, and some frigates attempting to flee the planet.

"4th Support, move to protect the shipyards and establish a blockade. Rest of the fleet, form up, and get ready to move into hyperspace as soon as preliminary rescue, salvage and repair missions are finished."

4 MC80 Cruisers
1 Nebula Star Dreadnought
3 Galactic Class Battle Cruisers
1 Executor Class Dreadnought
1 Mediator Class Battle Cruiser.

[John Hammond]

With that, the fleet jumped into hyperspace.

[Idella Faros]

OOC: I think you misunderstood, I'm talking about before you arrived. I never had the chance to post it before you decided to attack, and besides, the shipyards will still be there. Of course, they will be too big, but machinery will probably be sabotaged or removed, that's what i was getting at. They will need repairs to work again, but they probably would have anyway being Mon Calamari Design.

[John Hammond]

OOC:
A) how would the NR have known i was heading there?
B) It's not really my problem if NR has a chance to post before I get there. Of course, if it is a matter of being unable to react, then of course, I understand that. But if a faction doesn't defend a planet beforehand, or doesn't state its defenses, then I'm sorry, but we have to assume no measures are being taken. I mean, if you look at the time difference between my first post and my 2nd, I waited 3 days...
C) Sabotage I understand.

Sorry to be so pesky. But I think it's better if we sort this out now and not during other battles.

[Idella Faros]

OOC: Sorry, i re-read the post and decided it was too bias. I hope the edit is okay, let me know if anything else needs changing on it. It explains a little more of what's happening now, including why the Republic is not willing to defend the planet with all of it's forces.

--------------------------------

The defenders were in a frantic panic to escape. With such large numbers, even these loyalists who had stayed behind to fight knew it would be suicide. With ships deserting at every opportunity, there wouldn't be much left to fight with, even if they could. Without the necessary defenders, the few planetary strongholds would quickly fall and most probably surrender before the invasion began. The planet itself couldn't survive with the fleet above it and the impending ground assault made matters so much worse.

[John Hammond]

OOC: Cool. Since this battle is over, should we lock the thread and move it to Mon Cal? Also, I'm posting now in the actual MC place...